Page 93 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

Jack stepped forward and lightly grasped her elbow. Jasmine reminded herself not to react to that touch, although her heart pitter-pattered a bit.

“Gentleman,”

he said.

“if you’ll excuse us, I think Ms. Walker and I would like to discuss some things in private.”

“Jack?”

She gazed into his eyes, questioning.

He stared back and said.

“Perhaps we can take a walk or…”

Cam interrupted.

“Use my office. We’ll let you discuss and just give us a holler when you’re ready.”

The men left, and Jasmine wondered just how the next few minutes were going to pan out. The door closed.

“Let’s sit over here.”

Jack pulled a chair away from the table and turned it slightly.

Jasmine moved forward.

“I really think I prefer to stand.”

I think, anyway. If my knees will hold me up. Then she blurted.

“Don’t worry, Jack. We can find a way out of this. We don’t have to do what she says.”

Jack stood, silent for a moment.

“Or, we could.”

“Could what?”

“Do what she said. Fulfill her wishes.”

Jasmine laughed, hoping she didn’t sound nervous. Hoping her poker face was holding up. She sighed and then sat. Better.

“Jack, let’s be realistic.”

She wanted to be firm, direct. To the point. Reasonable.

But something was wrong. With her. She felt unbalanced, which was unusual. Things like this usually didn’t throw her for a loop.

Of course, when she dealt with things like this in her professional life, they were not personal. Like now.

“Jasmine, I am being realistic. Just hear me out.”

He pulled up a chair and sat across from her.

This wasn’t going the way she wanted. Of course, nothing so far yesterday or today was going as expected.

“All right. I’m listening.”

He took a deep breath and let it out. Slowly.

“First, remember that anything is possible, and we just need to—”

She fidgeted in her seat.

“Jack, look,”

she interrupted. Dammit. No use stringing this out.

“Some things are not possible. I just need to be honest here. I want to do good for Ms. Leinie. She saved a lot of money, and I really do want the kids and families of Harbor Falls who need it to benefit—but I’m not the person to make this thing happen. I can’t. I have other obligations.”

“So, do I, Jasmine. That’s why I think that the two of us together can make this work. Let’s just try to figure out the details of how we can make this happen for those kids.”

That’s all she’d been able to think about. Well, partly.

“Jack, I get it. I want to help the kids here. Truly, I do, but I can’t live in Harbor Falls.”

“What?”

“I can’t live here.”

He sat back. “Ever?”

She blew out a breath.

“I… I don’t think so, Jack. I’m not cut out for small-town living any longer. And Harbor Falls is just not that friendly to me.”

“You’re letting the past creep into the present, Jazzy. Don’t.”

She huffed.

“Not that easy, Jack. There is a lot of past here. A lot that even you don’t know about.”

He stared at her for a moment.

“So, tell me.”

She shook her head.

“No. There is no use. I’m not comfortable here any longer and I can’t live my life in a place where I am not welcome. So…”

“So that’s it? You’re not cut out for small-town living, so you just give up on the kids, and Ms. Leinie’s dream, and… And me?”

At that moment, she felt like she must own the hardest, coldest heart south of the Mason-Dixon.

“Wait. You’re jumping to conclusions. And I’m ahead of myself.”

“Then just get to it, Jasmine. What is it you want to say?”

“Take the money, Jack. I can give it to you. You can make this work. You’ll find a way. I’m giving the money over to you.”

He stood and the chair screeched on the hardwood floor.

“I don’t want the damn money, Jasmine. I want you. Don’t you get that?”

“Then why are you talking circles around the kids and the money and doing good things to honor Ms. Leinie? Then why don’t you just come right out and say what it is that you want?”

Her voice had raised, and at some point during those words, she stood and was facing Jack. He stared back at her with eyes full of conflict. Of love, hurt, confusion….

“I want you, Jazzy,”

he said, his voice soft.

“I want you by my side. I want you in my house and in my bed every single damn night. I love you. I have always loved you. And now that I’ve seen you again, touched you, kissed you… Well, I can’t bear to think about living the rest of my life without you.”

He closed his eyes, his head shaking, and Jasmine watched the anguish wash over his face.

“But it’s apparent you don’t feel the same.”

Jasmine knew what she said next would be the defining moment in their relationship. She had to measure her words carefully and make the right decision about what she truly did want.

“Jack,”

she whispered, her voice as calm as she could make it.

“You are firmly embedded in this community. You and your family. You have a beautiful home that needs a woman in it, and children. You need both of those things in your life. I know this. It’s what you’ve been wanting, seeking, since we were kids. You love me. I know this too. And I’m looking at you right now and telling you, with all of my heart, that I love you back. I always have and I always will. But I’m not the woman to give you those babies. I’m not the woman to sleep in your bed. I can’t. I can’t give you babies. I can’t live here. And I can’t love you like you want me to love you.”

Her eyes stung.

“Jack, take the money so it won’t go back to the state. Build the building and find someone to manage it. There are a lot of good people here in Harbor Falls. I’m going back to Atlanta and do the work that I do with children there. My place is not here. It never was here. I will never be able to overcome the heartache of being the poor little mixed girl who came from the wrong side of the tracks.

“So, I’m leaving. Don’t say anything. Please. Just let me walk out of here with some dignity. I’ll get with Art on my way out and tell him my decision.”

She turned her back on Jack then, opened the office door, and stepped out of his life.